mum's the word

There are folks who might think this “It’s Saturday” sounds delusional, crazy, cannibalistic, and repulsive. Now they might be wacko or right on target.  Now you get to decide.  Read at your own risk. But remember what ItchieBitchie says—When we make assumptions, we contribute to the complexity rather than the simplicity of a problem, making it more difficult to solve.

How do you decide what is “delusional, crazy, cannibalistic, and repulsive?”  I have no idea that is for sure but I have some ideas.  You do tooooo if you are honest and look at the truth.  One of my ideas is our past and current environment influences our decision.  I realize I say that a lot but folks, it is very obvious; isn’t it.  Many folks always don’t like to admit it (i.e. mum’s the word). Honest self-evaluation is very hard and for some it’s impossible.  I admit that sometimes I wonder if I understand anything correctly!  When I was a lad, I thought having a shack on a lake, with my dog Blackie and my horse Queen and my rifle and my fishing pole would fit me alright (i.e. a simple life).  I sometimes wonder if that still would be alright. ha ha  JoeBlow says—Isn’t that what the monks and priests do? But without a horse and a dog and a rifle and fishing pole and surely no women?

When is the last time you laughed soooo hard you cried?  My big sister (i.e. only in age) sent me an article called, How Can I Laugh at a Time Like This.  It said that laughing is soooo important for all us, especially caregivers.  It said many caregivers don’t laugh anymore (i.e. after all, what is funny).  Bob Newhart once said—Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it, and then move on.  When our “caregiving support group” meets, many times we laugh very hard (i.e. I don’t think I ever cried though).  What we laugh about, most of you wouldn’t understand I don’t think.  Soooo mum’s the word about these things to you guys. 

Myoldercouz, the one who went through the pain rehab at Mayo, told me that they said a person needs to laugh at least three times a day.  Sooooo I get this email from a pickleball buddy, John (i.e. anybody can be a John), which said-- My High School Principal told me 56 years ago, and I have never forgotten.(Experience is the bestTeacher, but it charges like a Specialist). I tell you what John, I have learned my share from the best teacher and I have paid the specialist rate!  And I’m still learning.  I only wish I could be as smart as you (i.e. not many are but maybe the reason you are soooo smart is what your principal told you 56 years ago).  Could be.  Maybe! You get all the breaks! Such is life.

Abraham Lincoln (i.e. one of my heroes) was very good at using humor in the most difficult of times.  Some say that is what kept his existence.  He loved to tell humorous stories at the most unlikely of times (i.e. at times of grimmest situations which drove some of his colleagues crazy).  In the article that my big sister (i.e. only in age) sent me said “to learn how to laugh now and not wait for someday.”  The end of the article said—"Caregivers, take care of yourself” (i.e. that is almost funny to caregivers).  Caregivers hear that all the time from many sources, but it is very hard to do (i.e. now that ain’t funny folks).  ha ha Why that is soooo funny to caregivers is that to take care of themselves, they need help from the people who say that.

                                                                                                                                                                 

I wonder about some friends, acquaintances, and etc. who might have had some bad experiences during their childhood or during their adult life that they have never told anyone (i.e. mum’s the word).  Maybe those past experiences have really messed up their life.  We now seem to hear more about adults who say they have been sexually or physically or mentally molested by different folks and how hurting it has been.  I wonder how many there are who will never spill the beans (i.e. maybe that is partly the reason they are as they are). I can understand that, somewhat, but not really as I have not experienced what they have.  It appears it can really help to share those hurt with someone who they can completely trust. But, you got to find that person who you can completely trust (i.e. someone who lives up to the expression “mum’s the word.”  I have some friends who I think I could do that with; you know who you are.  And some folks have “leakage of the mouth” that I probably wouldn’t tell. 

Tom Sawyer said to Huck Finn—“Oh, shucks, Huck Finn, if I was as ignorant as you, I’d keep still—that is what I’d do.”  Have you every felt like saying that to anyone?  SusieQ says—I have but toooo be politically correct and be the social queen, mum’s the word!  That is unless I’m in my elite clique: then it’s “a point getter” to bash someone who we think are lower on the social pickin’ ladder than us!  MissPerfect (i.e. who is better than the best) says--Let me tell ya, I can bash with the best; maybe I am the best; that is why I’m mother queen a.k.a. the alpha basher of the most elite clique!

Grumpy… would say—Can you keep it under your hat; play dumb; don’t let the cat out of the bag; don’t let on; don’t breathe a word; seal up your lips; can you do that?  The late Grumpy… (i.e. an Iowa legislator/independent insurance agent) told me this story while he and I were using adjoining urinals at an insurance meeting maybe 35 years ago—If you want something spread through the Capital, find the right person who loves to spread crap (i.e. a regular loud speaker) while using the adjoining urinal and tell them what you want spread. Tell them not to tell anyone.  Everyone will know it in a hour! It’s a great political move; it works every time.

Grumpy’s  “Mum’s the word” is the best way to spread the word even if it’s not true. Now they call it “leaking” or “fake news.” But now, it appears, words are used for the purpose of destroying. It appears that much of what is said in today’s culture is cosmetic veneer which causes most folks to believe nuttin anyone says any more (i.e. unless you are really totally, already brain washed—which maybe most of us maybe are). P. T. Barnum has said to have coined the phrase—“There is a sucker born every minute.”  And I think I could be the sucker! LuckieEddie (i.e. who can be an air horn at times) says—This is a crazy world we live in; sometimes it’s hard to make sense out of it.  LuckieEddie, it appears it has always been this way throughout all history; it ain’t nuttin new (i.e. it’s a continuous rerun—nothing changes in the story; just different actors using new technology)! I, like you, are probably the actors (i.e. some actors seem to be better than others)! Crazy!

Saturday question—Can you keep your mouth shut or is your mouth a public address system?  May I give you a suggestion?  If the person who you are going to share something with talks about others’ lives, well, they will do the same of you even if they say they won’t (i.e. mum’s the word they say); you are not that special even if you think you are; you are not and they will tell others what you asked them not to repeat.  Don’t trust them.  I was told by onesmartperson that if folks won’t talk about their personal shortcomings and their faults but always about someone else’s, well, be leery of them (i.e. they probably are big gossipers with huge massive noses).  I think onesmartperson learned that from experience (i.e. experience is a mean teacher). 

Mum's the word is a popular English idiom. It is related to an expression used by William Shakespeare, in Henry VI, Part 2. The word “mum” is a slanged version of momme, which was used between 1350-1400 in Middle English with very close to the same meaning: Be silent; Do not reveal. How do I know this? I goggled it (i.e. I’m not that smart). Tom Sawyer said to Huck Finn—“It ain’t no use to try to learn you nothing.”

CadillacJack (i.e. who can act like a prehistoric man at times) says—The meaning of words has been reduced to a personal affinity in our modern culture which produces some interesting implications.  Sooooo those implications can really affect us if we like it or not; I think they do (i.e. they are our current environment which will become our past environment).  It will probably affect future generations.  The old saying goes something like this—It will take one or two or three generations to correct the implications (i.e. to get the pendulum to swing the other direction).  Such is life.  Sign outside a second-hand shop read:  We exchange anything – bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain?

Off-putting!  That is an interesting word; I never heard of it before (i.e. I heard of putting off though).  But you got to remember that I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.  ANYWAY, I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it and “off-putting” was in what I read.  Here is part of it (i.e. our modern culture doesn’t allow many of us to read anything that is tooooo long). ha ha  Tooooo many folks of the younger generations, think Christianity is countercultural; it swims against the stream of contemporary life…There are a lot of theories as to why church leaders look out on so much empty lumber on Sunday mornings—lower birth rates, institutional irrelevance, fuzzy theology—but sometimes I find myself wondering if the demands of the gospel are simply too off-putting for people nowadays. The problem is not that the theology is fuzzy but that it is alarmingly clear—there is a cost to discipleship, and the cost is to die to yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”…To the crowds listening to Jesus that day, his words sounded delusional, crazy, cannibalistic, repulsive. “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66). And so many people today also turn back. What do you think of that? That is what I thought. GeorgeTheCrook says—I live it up today and die tomorrow!

I am going to have a new experience, yes I am.  I’m going to an Ash Wednesday service and have the ash cross put on my forehead.  I’m also going to fast on Ash Wednesday and also on Good Friday (i.e. never did that before either).  I read this in the Catholic Charities Newsletter—"Many will celebrate Lent in traditional ways with prayer and fasting. During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on the third pillar of Lenten practice, Almsgiving.  Almsgiving is the practice of donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity.” I think I might try this as well.   How about you guys giving it a shot? 

The midnight ride – of Paul for beer – led to a warmer – hemisphere – Burma Shave

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says—The greatest risk may be in not taking one.